Comments From A 2016 Online Discussion By Freemasons About Prince Hall Shriners Doing The Camel Walk (Also Known As "Riding")

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents selected comments from a six page 2016 Freemason discussion thread entitled "Representing The Craft": Do you think that representing the craft as if it were a college fraternity has a positive or negative impact? 

This pancocojams compilation of those comments focuses on comments that refer to the Prince Hall Shriners' dance/strutting custom referred to as "riding".  A video of "riding" is included in one of the comments that is quoted from that discussion.

The Addendum to this post showcases three additional YouTube videos of Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA) Shriners doing their versions of the  Camel Walk that they refer to as  "riding". 

The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks to all those who are featured in the YouTube videos that are embedded in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/02/general-information-about-prince-hall.html for the closely related post entitled "General Information About Prince Hall Masons & Prince Hall Shriners (2024 Update)."

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/09/prince-hall-shriners-tradition-of.html for a 2017 pancocojams post with someYouTube videos and comments about Prince Hall Shriners "riding" (performing their processional strutting version of the Camel Walk dance.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
The 2016 discussion thread that is excerpted in this pancocojams post includes a survey that has the following results:

Do you think that representing the craft as if it were a college fraternity has a positive or negative impact? 

Negative impact -          24 votes     82.8%
Positive Impact -             4 votes     12.8%
Doesn't really matter-      2 votes      6.9%
I don't really care             1 vote       3.4 %

****
DISCLAIMER
i have never been a member of the female organizations that are affiliated with Freemasons or Shriners.

I've added some explanatory notes under some of these comments.

Additions and corrections are welcome.

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS DISCUSSION THREAD
The numbers in this compilation are the numbers these comments have in that online discussion. 

I've used italic font for the quotes that are part of these comments.

https://www.myfreemasonry.com/threads/representing-the-craft.26835/

lilhut3579

Mar 27, 2016

#1

"Lately I've been seeing an increase in younger Masons representing the fraternity in a college fraternity like manner. Mainly PHA Masons. I wonder why? Not saying its a bad thing. I myself had a pretty "shiny" jacket made. Its the older brothers who seem to have more a problem with it. I want to know thoughts on this from not only PH brothers but Mainstream brothers as well.

p.s.

 

I'm 24 any brother out there younger than me?"

**
Derinique Kendrick

Mar 28, 2016

#9

"If paraphernalia is what we are talking about in terms of representing the organization then it isn't a big deal in my eyes. I agree that alot of the older brothers have a lot of critique when it comes to younger brothers wearing paraphernalia. I think it becomes a problem if said brother(s) decide he or they want to throw a college party. The difference is, those fraternities are social groups whereas Masonry is not a social group but every now and then you come across ones who treat it as such and that is where the issue comes in. Am I right, @Travelling Man91?"

** 

mrpierce17

Mar 29, 2016

#17

"lilhut3579 said:

Lately I've been seeing an increase in younger Masons representing the fraternity in a college fraternity like manner. Mainly PHA Masons. I wonder why? Not saying its a bad thing. I myself had a pretty "shiny" jacket made. Its the older brothers who seem to have more a problem with it. I want to know thoughts on this from not only PH brothers but Mainstream brothers as well.

p.s.

I'm 24 any brother out there younger than me?

Can you expand on what you mean when you say representing the fraternity like a college frat we are upright moral men and any Mason should carry himself as such"

** 

acjohnson53

Mar 29, 2016

#18

"ahhh we don't stomp the yard...But we can do the camel walk.....LOL"

**** 

https://www.myfreemasonry.com/threads/representing-the-craft.26835/page-2

Ripcord22A

Mar 31, 2016

#23

"lilhut3579 said:

So I mean the regalia mostly and there has been a hand sign. i assume its making a square but basically making a square with the index finger and thumb.

Our regalia is nothing like that of a GREEK frat. they wear hoodies and what not with their letters on em. As for hand signs of its not the DG and PS of a degree, the GHSD or the grips then it is not masonic"

**
MRichard

Mark A. Ri'chard

Mar 31, 2016

#25

"There are some similarities between PHA and the Divine 9 fraternities. Most of the Divine 9 fraternities founders were PHA at some point in time. They both use lines to initiate candidates (well not sure if all PHA do). They are similarities in the ritual as well. Their rituals used ours as a blueprint or pattern. I belong to a Divine 9 fraternity. Divine 9 fraternities are historically Black ones in case you were wondering. I am not saying that PHA is like a college frat, I am saying there are similarities."
-snip-
"Divine Nine" is the informal name for the National Pan-Hellenic Council. That Council consists of five historically Black Greek letter fraternities and four historically Black Greek letter sororities. Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pan-Hellenic_Council for more information about the Divine Nine. 

**
The Traveling Man

Mar 31, 2016

#31

"I don't think jackets, hats, etc are symbolic of a college frat. It's no different than someone in the union to wear a union shirt or jacket, or an employee to wear something bearing the name or logo of his job. I don't have a jacket yet, but I have Masonic shirts, earrings, rings, bracelets, pins and car decals. I'm proud to be a Mason so I show it. But it isn't so much for the public to see as it is for other Brothers to notice it. Where I'm at I see it more with the older members. They have the jackets, the license plates, multiple pins, etc. I see it more with Brothers from my Grand Lodge than with the PHA Brothers, but I suspect it's probably about even. I'm 33 and the members in my Lodge that are younger than me I haven't seen with Any of those items yet."

** 

Dontrell Stroman

Apr 1, 2016

#35

"I will say that some lodges near college universities govern themselves in a way that a college fraternity does. They pledge, party, "Step" and design their jackets in a way college frats do. I would not venture out to say this is a PHA thing. I know many clandestine AF&AM have lodges set up all over the big cities in TN. A lot of times brothers see guys acting and dressing this way, and automatically assume it's a PHA thing. I don't think it's a unrealistic assumption due to the fact how would you know PHA from clandestine mason without asking or seeing a charter. They use the same symbols as all regular masons."
-snip-
Read a comment in the pancocojams comment section below about the meaning of "clandestine Masonic lodges".

**
Dontrell Stroman

Apr 1, 2016

#36

"Without a doubt I believe it's younger masons. In my own experiences, I've yet to see a older mason acting that way. That's not to say their aren't some out."

**
MRichard

Mark A. Ri'chard

Apr 1, 2016

#37

"Travelling Man91 said:

Without a doubt I believe it's younger masons. In my own experiences, I've yet to see a older mason acting that way. That's not to say their aren't some out here.

There are many PHA Shriners videos on youtube doing the camel walk. I assume you have to be a PHA mason to be a PHA Shriner. Kinda like stepping.

PHA Shriners Bringing In The New Year

BTNKD1, Feb 12, 2008  #209

How Nasty Does a Noble have to be? I appreciate all of the views that this video is getting. "Ride Clyde"

Fayum Temple #209 Manhattan Kansas.
-snip-
music -  George Clinton - Atomic Dog
"PHA" = Prince Hall Affiliated" Shriners
"Nobles" is a referent to PHA Shriners; "Nasty Nobles" is a complimentary referent to how well PHA Shriners do their "riding"(strutting walk).  "Ride Clyde"is a rhyming term that PHA Shriners use to refer to "riding".  

**

MRichard

Mark A. Ri'chard

Apr 1, 2016

#39

"Travelling Man91 said:

I don't know much about the Shriner's due to the fact that I am not one, but I am aware that PHA Shriner's do the "Camel walk". My objection is, Shriner's and Freemasons are two different and separate organizations. That might be the custom and tradition for PHA Shriner's to do the camel walk, but it's not for PHA freemasonry.

So those are not PHA masons? I never said it was the custom. You said you never saw older brothers act that way. There were definitely some older brothers in that video."

**
Dontrell Stroman

Apr 1, 2016

#40

"Yes they are masons, but they are not acting under freemasonry when it comes to dancing. They are doing something their appendent body come up with. I still haven't seen older freemasons, meaning just blue Lodge brothers dancing and acting like a College frat. But it's not a Masonic offense to dance anyways. I saw Shriner's doing a dance for their organization, but I've yet to see PHA masons representing the blue lodge dance in that kind of way."
-snip-
blue lodge= a referent for "mainstream" freemasons (not PHA Masons

****

https://www.myfreemasonry.com/threads/representing-the-craft.26835/page-3

Bloke

Apr 1, 2016

#41

"I dont think the camel dance would fly at our Shrine Club, but each to his own..."

**
MBC

Apr 2, 2016

#50

"MRichard said:

There are many PHA Shriners videos on youtube doing the camel walk. I assume you have to be a PHA mason to be a PHA Shriner. Kinda like stepping.

I just find it quite ridiculous that they do this "walk" with our fezzes. I think wearing our fezzes to do this somehow may damage the image of Shriners...

I am fine of any people doing anything but they were wearing a fez and got filmed... I don't know how the public says when they watch this(?)

P.S. Sorry for my old school conservative British view."

**

Glen Cook
G. A. Cook

Apr 2, 2016

#52

"MBC said:

Oh no... Smh...

I just find it quite ridiculous that they do this "walk" with our fezzes. I think wearing our fezzes to do this somehow may damage the image of Shriners...

I am fine of any people doing anything but they were wearing a fez and got filmed... I don't know how the public says when they watch this(?)

P.S. Sorry for my old school conservative British view.

Recognising we are speaking of both Egyptian (PHA) and International Shrine, Shrine has Clowns, Oriental Bands, funny little cars...I assure you, this is relatively modest behaviour and really not offensive in the Shrine context. Placing an "old school British view" on Shrine probably is not the better approach. Now, the video of Masons at a funeral is a different matter.

FYI, I was a member of the European Shrine Club, have performed a ceremonial in London, and take some credit for the UK still being under Aahmes Shrine and not Emirat."

****
https://www.myfreemasonry.com/threads/representing-the-craft.26835/page-4

Glen Cook

Apr 3, 2016

#62

"Travelling Man91 said:

Haven't seen the video. Okay let's say you did find a video of PHA masons dancing, so what. Just because one Lodge does it doesn't make it a custom for PHA masonry as a whole. There is a video online of a member of the Shriner international speaking on Lucifer and it caused controversy. Does his statement alone speak for all Shriner's ?

Apologies. Didn't mean to imply it was PHA lodge which many have seen doing a camel walk. I meant to indicate I didn't like it, as compared to the camel walk for Shriners of any fez, which doesn't bother me."

** 

Dontrell Stroman

Apr 3, 2016

#63

Glen Cook said:

Apologies. Didn't mean to imply it was PHA lodge which many have seen doing a camel walk. I meant to indicate I didn't like it, as compared to the camel walk for Shriners of any fez, which doesn't bother me.

No need for apologies brother cook. I understand what all the brothers are saying regarding dancing and acting like college fraternities. I'm just stating that yes PHA Shriner's do the "Camel Walk" and just because one or two PHA blue lodges do some kind of dance at a ceremony does not speak for PHA masonry as a whole. I have never saw it in person. I can only speak from my personal experiences. When I was a member of the ELKS lodge, they danced at certain ceremonies. I don't know why, but they did."
-snip-
The Elks is another secret fraternal order.

**

MBC

Apr 8, 2016

#65

"Well It is just my opinion to think that "walk" is quite weird and pointed out some potential concerns as Freemasonry in general.

Outsiders won't care you Shriners, Craft, Royal Arch or even fake masons, they just know that these people are (free)masons.

And I am sure some of my closer brethren would have a similar view on it.

I am not putting my rulers up to measure everyone, just expressing my views.

If you get offended, then I am sorry about my poor English as it is not my mother language"

** 

MRichard

Mark A. Ri'chard

Apr 8, 2016

"MBC said:

Well It is just my opinion to think that "walk" is quite weird and pointed out some potential concerns as Freemasonry in general.

Outsiders won't care you Shriners, Craft, Royal Arch or even fake masons, they just know that these people are (free)masons.

And I am sure some of my closer brethren would have a similar view on it.

I am not putting my rulers up to measure everyone, just expressing my views.

If you get offended, then I am sorry about my poor English as it is not my mother language.

The people at those events probably love it. That type of dancing is a part of their culture. I am sure that some people don't like certain things of your culture regardless of what it is. They are Shriners and Shriners are known for having fun.

You don't have to like it. There are things in freemasonry that I don't like either. It is what it is"

**
MRichard

Mark A. Ri'chard

Apr 8, 2016

#68

"MBC said:

I am not forcing people to not like it with me. Apart from that I am also a Shriner, I like to have fun as well.

However I may have a British old school mind like a brother said before.

I am a Shriner as well. Don't see a problem with it."

** 

Glen Cook

G A Cook

Apr 8, 2016

#70

"Travelling Man91 said:

Question : does Shriner international members dance at any functions ?

 

Umm, define dance?"

** 

G A Cook

Apr 8, 2016

#72

"Travelling Man91 said:

Move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps. Lol okay my own definition, I guess similar to what the PHA shiners did in the video

I've never seen Shriners International members do a camel walk or the like, though I've not been to every temple."

**
Dontrell Stroman

Apr 8, 2016

#73

"Glen Cook said:

I've never seen Shriners International members do a camel walk or the like, though I've not been to every temple.

Bro cook, I could see you doing the camel walk ha ha jk"

 
**
Dontrell Stroman

Apr 8, 2016

#74

"All jokes aside, I wonder if this is part of their ritual or just "fun time" for them"

 
**
The Traveling Man

Apr 8, 2016

#76

"The Camel Walk has been used by PHA Shriners for a long time. They call it Riding, as in "Riding through the desert". I think the song they usually ride to is called "White Horse". Some Clandestine black Lodges also do the camel walk. The walk itself has been around for probably 100 years, and the version that the Shriners use has been around for over 50 years. James Brown used to do the camel walk."

 
**

mrpierce17

Apr 29, 2016

#77

"[QUOTE="The Traveling Man, post: Some Clandestine black Lodges also do the camel walk. [/QUOTE]

Im confused on by what you mean when you say clandestine black lodges because from my understanding any man regardless of race can join any lodge if he is voted on favorably by the brethren that would include GL of state PHA even clandestine lodges I am a Prince Hall mason and I have sat in tiled lodge with many white brothers who where also Prince hall Mason further more I don't see how having a little fun doing a dance is giving away any secrets or violating ones MM oath and obligation"

** 

mrpierce17

Apr 29, 2016

#78

"Not trying to single anyone out but I think it is a low blow for anyone to single a lodge out by one particular race a lodge can be predominantly composed of one particular race but open to all who wish to join"

** 

MRichard

Mark A. Ri'chard

Apr 29, 2016

#79

"mrpierce17 said:

Im confused on by what you mean when you say clandestine black lodges because from my understanding any man regardless of race can join any lodge if he is voted on favorably by the brethren that would include GL of state PHA even clandestine lodges I am a Prince Hall mason and I have sat in tiled lodge with many white brothers who where also Prince hall Mason further more I don't see how having a little fun doing a dance is giving away any secrets or violating ones MM oath and obligation

PHA is regular regardless if the state grand lodge considers them clandestine in the states where the PHA grand lodge is not recognized. Each grand lodge is sovereign. In some areas like Texas & New York, there are a lot of so called 4 letter clandestine lodges so much so that they greatly outnumber the PHA lodges."

** 

MRichard

Mark A. Ri'chard

Apr 29, 2016

#80

"mrpierce17 said:

Not trying to single anyone out but I think it is a low blow for anyone to single a lodge out by one particular race a lodge can be predominantly composed of one particular race but open to all who wish to join

Actually it isn't. And it is a big issue for the PHA grand lodges in certain states. I have no idea what criteria a clandestine lodge uses to recruit members."

****
https://www.myfreemasonry.com/threads/representing-the-craft.26835/page-5

The Traveling Man
Apr 29, 2016

#92

"mrpierce17 said:

[QUOTE="The Traveling Man, post: Some Clandestine black Lodges also do the camel walk.

Im confused on by what you mean when you say clandestine black lodges because from my understanding any man regardless of race can join any lodge if he is voted on favorably by the brethren that would include GL of state PHA even clandestine lodges I am a Prince Hall mason and I have sat in tiled lodge with many white brothers who where also Prince hall Mason further more I don't see how having a little fun doing a dance is giving away any secrets or violating ones MM oath and obligation[/QUOTE]

Brother, you read too deep into my message. First, in case you haven't saw my pics, I'm black, so I wasn't playing the race card. I stated that the Clandestine black lodges do it to because the average person who may see a group of black Brothers doing the walk on YouTube would probably assume that they are PHA. So I was simply stating that the Clandestine black lodges (as in IFAAM, PHO, etc) do it too (because of the videos on YouTube are in fact Not PHA). If this was a PHA board I would have omitted the "black" reference. But seeing as how most of the Brothers on this board aren't black, me saying Clandestine lodges could have lead them to believe that other Clandestine lodges do it. Clandestine could mean GOdF, Italy, or any other Clandestine Jurisdictions, but when I say Black Clandestine most Brothers will automatically make the association with IFAAM, PHO, JGJ, etc.... Since the camel walk, as far as I know, is not done by any of the mainstream Brothers, I wanted to be clear on who I was referring to when I stated Clandestine. My bad if you took it the wrong way Brother.... And you're right, any race can join any Jurisdiction. There are definitely white Brothers who belong to Prince Hall Lodges, as well as black Brothers (like myself) who belong to Mainstream Lodges"

****
ADDENDUM - THREE ADDITIONAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS  OF PRINCE HALL SHRINERS  DOING THE CAMEL WALK (also known as "riding"; "ride out")

Video #1 -Noble Ride Out @ Savannah State University (Georgia)

Say It Aint So Podcast, Nov 2, 2008
-snip-
music - Laid Back - "White Horse" (remix)

****
Video #2 - Nasty Nobles! Bejilah Temple #163 Harvest Ball 2022

Tristan Perkins, Nov 25, 2022

Shriners Camel walking
-snip-
music- Too Short- "Blow The Whistle"

****
Videos #3 - Camel 🐫 Walkin 🚶🏾‍♂️at the Gala Day 2023 Cookout Augusta Commons

 

Be Like Water, May 8, 2023  AUGUSTA COMMON [Georgia]

AEAONMS Desert of Georgia Nobles 👳🏾‍♂️👳🏾‍♂️👳🏾‍♂️👳🏾‍♂️👳🏾‍♂️👳🏾‍♂️👳🏾‍♂️ Camel 🐫  Walkin 🚶🏾‍♂️ 📻 🎶 at the Augusta Commons square, in Augusta GA, Saturday, 06 May 2023, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM.
-snip-
Mystikal -"Here I Go" (Radio Version)
-snip-
The 1983 Danish Pop song "White Horse" by Laid Back* used to be the "go to" record for PHA Shriners' Camel Walk. However, since 2008? YouTube videos document that other records have largely supplanted Laid Back's "White Horse" as the record that is played for PHA Shriners' Camel Walks. Also, YouTube videos post 2007 or thereabouts of PHA Shriners doing that strutting circular dance appear to refer to it as "The Camel Walk" much more often than to "Riding".

*Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Horse_(Laid_Back_song) for a Wikipedia article about the 1983 record "White Horse".by the Danish duo "Laid Back"

That article doesn't mention the fact that that record used to be the PHA Shriner's Camel Walk ("riding") anthem.  

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Information About & Videos Of The "Camel Walk" Dance (with information about The Prince Hall Shriners & "The Camel Walk" Procession)ha

CharismaticJayy, Oct 28, 2022 -snip- This YouTube video replaces one that is no longer available.

**** Edited by Azizi Powell Latest Revision: August 31, 2026

This pancocojams post presents information about the dance called "the camel walk" . This post also showcases several videos of contemporary examples of social dances called "the camel walk". This post also presents some comments from the discussion threads for a few of these showcase videos. The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and entertainment purposes. Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. -snip- Some of the content of this post is included in this 2012 pancocojams post entitled " Videos Of R&B "The Camel Walk" Dance & Videos Of Shriners "Riding" Camel Walk" 
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/09/videos-of-camel-walk-dance-shriners.html
**** INFORMATION ABOUT THE "CAMEL WALK" DANCE Source #1 From https://lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=678894&article_id=3801653&view  The Rag-Time Origins Of The Camel Walk by Noble Damajo Smith, Rameses Temple  #5,Charlotte, North Carolina [no publishing date, but the latest citation is 2020]

…"The [Camel Walk] dance has actually been in the African American community for a great deal of time with multiple variations of the dance showing up in various forms and reintroduced with revivals in relationship to rag-time music. The dance done in connection to the Mystic Shrine still contains some visual and rhythmic similarities to the older versions of the dance.  Rag-time music became popular in the mid/late 1890s as a precursor for Jazz and Blues. The music style found its characteristic expression in formally structured piano compositions and was influenced by African American banjo styles and syncopated (off-beat) dance rhythms o the cakewalk as well as elements of European music.

The dances that accompanied this Rag-time style of music were in some cases labeled “Animal dances” mimicking distinctive moves from sea, land, and air animals. The CamelWalk was one of such dances along with others such as the Crap Step, Horse Trot, Kangaroo Dip ,and the Grizzley Bear to name a few.

[…] These dance moves were popular with Americans but none more than the African American community as such they were looked down upon and considered ungraceful type dances.  As these dances became more popular with the broader society, the leadership of many cities, including mayors  and evangelists condemned them in favor of dances considered to have more decorum such as new versions of the waltz, gavotte, and polka.

These dances would continue to be popular in the 1920s when we would see jazz era break out and new dances such as Charleston, Foxtrot, and later the Lindy Hop and jitterbug grow in popularity.”

[…]

So what is the connection between the camel walk dance and the A.E.A.O.N.M.S.?  It may be obvious that both are African American creations and found within the African American community.  Both would have been very familiar to the community and would have overlapped in the community service and social arenas.  However, the connection goes further, the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. is a benevolent and fraternal organization built upon symbolic teachings of morality.  The backdrop for the Shrine is the deserts of Arabia and the Islamic culture, and within the symbolic teachings of the Mystic Shrine you find references to the camel.

The camel is a very important animal and resource in the desert and is the national animal of Saudi Arabia.  They can travel for long distances without food or water…They are one of the best sources of transportation in sandy areas and can move quickly (up to 40 mph) due to the natural design of their feet which allows easy movement in sand. It has always been very important to properly tie your camel to a hitching post or other firm supports so that you don’t lose such a valuable resource in the desert.

The camel, a useful means of support in the desert, is used to move people and goods between one oasis and another (an oasis is a fertile spot in the desert, where water is found.) 

An oasis also can be considered a pleasant or peaceful area or period in the midst of a difficult, troubled, or hectic situation.  We hve designed each city wherein a Temple of a Mystic Shrine resides as an Oasis, the Desert has been designated as the state or region that houses that Oasis/Temple and the national body that is the umbrella covering for the Dominion of the Imperial Council.  Therefore, these fertile, pleasant, and peaceful Temples draw a direct relationship with the symbolic nature of the Mystic Shrine.  They are the center for our community service activities such as voter registrations, college scholarship awards, back to school supply giveaways, health screenings and our diabetic initiatives. We invite all that are within our walls to share in our social functions as well”…

****

Source #2 From http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3camel.htm
"The Camel Walk was a ragtime animal dance, came originally from Vaudeville shows. The Camel Walk was mainly done by college students and "flappers" during the Jazz age in the 1910's and 20's with the public as a social dance. It was basically done with a Straight Up (Posture) but otherwise was walking 1920's fox-trot from start to end while dragging your steps slightly, done to slow music and in a zigzag direction or rotary direction. The Camel Walk drew a lot of displeasure among many mainly because the Girls would rest their heads on the leaders shoulder while dancing which many frowned upon as vulgar dancing. Occasionally the dance was varied with Fox-Trot steps by those who disliked anything quite so extreme.

[..]

The Camel Walk spin-offs of the 1910's became a popular retro dance to do at the time in the 1950's/60's, however these spin-off's were freestyle rather than couples. With such dances as the Camel Walk, Dance the Camel Walk, The Camel Walk Stroll etc ... It is said the the Horse dance was just another Camel Walk. The Camel Walk became the Stroll in the 1950's.

The two signature step's of the Camel Walk was the ronde or fan (rotary-walk rather than a gait or a transverse walk? of the leg, and the high slow lifting walking step forward. There is also the 'knee pop' or funky "Camel-Walk" variation with the leg hooking behind the other as seen in the above clip by Sammy. The Boogie Walks / Shorty George are also related to the Camel walk."
**** PART 1: CAMEL WALK R&B DANCES, HIP-HOP DANCES (Including a 2021 dance that is an updated form of the Camel Walk)

The original video that was embedded for Showcase Video #1 is no longer available. ****

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: James Brown and Sammy Davis Junior There was a time dancing together [demonstration of a 1960s style of dancing the camel walk]

jeffcher, Oct. 19, 2016
-snip- The portion of the camel walk begins around 2:22 in this video.  Actor, singer, dancer Sammy Davis, Jr. demonstrates the 1960s way of dancing "the camel walk" to singer, composer, dancer James Brown.

**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3: - Al Minns - 1935 Camel Walk

Trickeration,

Aug 31, 2007

al minns (demonstrating the camel walk) & leon james (briefly) filmed in the 1950s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNiWLJxxK70 **** SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - The Official Camel Walk Dance Video [2011] WARNING: From 2:28 to 2:55, this next video includes the repeated cursing refrain "Do dat sh*t".

Uploaded by jrkmsu on Jan 1, 2011

Hitting that Camel Walk. Song by my boy Gevonte Davis. Gulfport, Mississippi
-snip-
Here's some comments from that video's discussion thread:(with numbers added for referencing purposes only)

1. bmo, 2011
"search for "james brown dancing" - big time camel walk!"

**
2. Chris Styles, 2012
"wow.  we did this back in the mid 80s. I can't believe kids are bringing this back."

**
3. infocus2008, 2012
"History does repeat itself"

**
Reply
4. DeathAngel7030, 2013
"Yeah I know. It was originally used as an intro while breakdancing

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #5:  Camel Walk Tutorial - Flockey [2013]

flockey12, Apr 3, 2013
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only.

1. KM3W, 2014 "A dance from the past! mid 60's!" ** Reply 2. Anders, 2018 "right back to at least the 30s they still did the same thing

... the jazz dance became a soul dance and its still goin strong ..."
** 3. packleader87, 2014 "Sammy Davis' walk was amazing too." ** Reply 4. Anders, 2018 "word ......" -snip- "Word" here is an African American Vernacular English term that is a shortened form for the statement "I hear the words that you're saying and I agree".

** 5. RIFICA777, 2015 "Nice. This the dance from the 60's?" ** Reply 6. Jacqueline Boswell, 2019 "Yes this is very much a dance the was very popular in the 60's." ** 7. KingNoble Martin, 2015 "You should change the name of the step because it is already belonging to all of the Shriners who actually do the real camel walk so out of respect to them and us. Love the dance but please call it something else ok.

** Reply 8. Benoit Guerin, 2015 "@Dwayne Martin  the camel walk is a charleston walk, It was already used in the 20's - 30's.

** 9. Hazel Eyes, 2018 "You done a excellent job teaching the camel walk.   I remember the camel walk dance from the 70s.  You are very good.

** 10. David Windhorst, 2019 "Well, that was awesome enough. :>)

Researching the history of the camel walk brought me here.  I heard it mentioned in a rockabilly song from the 50's; didn't realize it dates all the way back to ragtime and the Roaring '20's.

** 11. Quilter Nancy, 2020 "My mother, who would have been 90 this year, demo’d this dance to me when I was in high school. 

She said she and her friends did it when they were in HS!  1946?  She was almost as good as you!

** 12. Oxygen 7, July 2021 "People are calling it the 3 walk now"

** 13. Liams World, Sept. 2021 "And the camel walk is backkkkkkkkkk🔥🔥🔥🔥🥳" **** SHOWCASE VIDEO #6: How to 3 Step Walk TikTok Dance Tutorial [2021]



Lord Hec., July 20, 2021

-snip- Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgIQ2LFOeTc&ab_channel=LordHec for Part II of this tutorial video. -snip- The TikTok "3 step walk" challenge are danced to a brief clip of Beethoven by the Hip Hop artist Kenndog. Here's a link to a YouTube video of that TikTok challenge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvplQn1-Q9w&t=11s&ab_channel=TikTube, published by TikTube, July 23, 2021 WARNING: That song includes the four letter form of what is commonly known as "the n word". **** PART #2: INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRINCE HALL SHRINERS AND EXAMPLES OF SHRINER'S RIDING (CAMEL WALK) Excerpt #1 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Hall_Freemasonry "Prince Hall Freemasonry is a branch of North American Freemasonry for African Americans founded by Prince Hall on September 29, 1784.

There are two main branches of Prince Hall Freemasonry: the independent State Prince Hall Grand Lodges, most of which are recognized by Regular Masonic jurisdictions, and those under the jurisdiction of the National Grand Lodge. Prince Hall Freemasonry is the oldest and largest (300,000+ initiated members) predominantly African-American fraternity in the nation.[1]"...

**** Excerpt #2 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shriners#Black_shrines "Shriners International, also commonly known as The Shriners or formerly known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, (AAONMS) is a Masonic society established in 1870 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.[1]

Shriners International describes itself as a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief,and truth. [...]

In 1893, a black counterpart to the Shriners movement was initiated by John G. Jones and other Prince Hall masons, initially called The Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North and South America and Its Jurisdictions.^[14] Early in the group's history, there was legal conflict between the white and black orders, with a white order from Texas filing suit against a local black order for infringement of white Shriners regalia and traditions. The white order was initially successful in quashing the black temple until the ruling was overturned in appeals in 1929, protecting the right of black Shriners to continue practicing and fundraising nationwide.^[15] The Worldwide Fraternal Shrine Family counts 35,000 members in 227 shrines, with its own women's auxiliary organizations. Their primary recipients of charitable donations are the NAACP, The Urban League, the UNCF, and various hospitals and universities."...

**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #1-Menelik Temple#36 Nobles Camel Walking

Dayna on the Bart, Dec 6, 2015

November 14, 2015 Prince Hall Shriners Annual Joint Illustrious Potentate Ball. Nobles Camel Walking, bringing  Potey in! AEANOMS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLlUqikutIo -snip- Notice that the first group that is shown in this video are marching to a United States military cadence. United States military cadences originated with and are largely composed by African Americans. ****

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Moussa Temple No. 106's 2018 Illustrious Potentate Ball Ride

Burrell Palmer, Oct. 22, 2018

SAN ANTONIO - (Oct. 20, 2018) Let's take a Ride. The Prince Hall Shriners of Moussa Temple No. 106 held their annual Illustrious Potentate Ball honoring Noble Burrell Parmer at the Holiday Day Inn International Airport Hotel. Thanks to the Ball Department and to the many guests who attended. (Song by EPMD: You Got's To Chill, Remix) -snip- Here are the only two comments from this video's discussion thread:(as of Auguat 21, 2026)

1. Victor Sherrod, 2019 "Ride Nobles" ** 2. Randy Coe, 2020 "Thank you for sharing. 

Camel riding is lots of fun and fellowship." **** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Nasty Omar 21 Nobles ride Amos “Big Slimm” Tunstall Jr, May 6, 2019

Georgia Gala Conference, Oasis of Savannah Desert of

Georgia.. camel (ride Clyde) A.E.A.O.N.M.S. Slimm Music -"Here I Go" - Mystikal -snip- Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread: @Nawlinsfanforlife, 2016 "Ride NOBLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEgw3GfkeeY&t=186s

**** Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Prince Hall Affiliated Shriners' Riding Tradition (videos & comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Revised; April 11, 2021

This pancocojams post showcases a few examples of Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA) Shriners' riding. Selected comments from one of these videos' discussion threads are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who have been and are now associated with Prince Hall Shriners. Thanks also to those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

****
DISCLAIMER:
I have no affiliation or direct or indirect contact with any member of the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. (Prince Hall Affiliated Shriners) or any other Shriner or Masonic organization.

As indicated above, this information is posted for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

Additions and corrections to this information are very welcome.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE: April 11, 2021
I first published a post about the Prince Hall Affiliated Shriners tradition of riding in 2012 on this pancocojams blog and have published several more posts about Prince Hall Masons on this blog and on my Zumulayah blog.

As a result of watching some YouTube videos and reading their comment threads, I've recently learned that there are other predominately Black Shriner organizations besides Prince Hall Affiliated Shriners. I also recently learned that although the performance dance/strolling movement called "riding" is considered a PHA Shriner tradition, some members of those mostly Black non-PHA Shriner organizations may also perform "riding" steps/dances. According to comments that I have read in those videos' discussion threads, those performances are done differently than PHA Shriners and, unlike the PHA Shriner tradition, sometimes those performances include women.

Because my intention was and still is to document the Prince Hall Affiliated Shriners' tradition of riding, I've deleted the above mentioned Zumulayah post because it showcased some videos of riding performances by non-Prince Hall affiliated organizations.

Based on several comments that were posted to the discussion thread for that Zumulayah post, I have deleted two of the videos that were originally included in that Zumulayah post and also in this post.  I have also added one of the comments from that Zumulayah blog post to this post's discussion thread. That comment refers to historically Black Greek letter fraterntities.  

I apologize for any confusion that may have occurred as a result of previous versions of those posts.

Please alert me to any corrections that need to be made with the content of this post. 
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/09/videos-of-camel-walk-dance-shriners.html for the r 2012 pancocojams post entitled "The Camel Walk" Dance & Shriners "Riding" Camel Walk Strut". That post includes descriptions of the camel walk dance, three videos of different styles of the camel walk dance, as well as two videos of Shriners who I believe are Prince Hall Affiliated Shriners. [Corrections are welcome.]

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRINCE HALL SHRINERS
The formal name for the Prince Hall Shriners is the "Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine". (A.E.A.O.N.M.S.) This Black fraternal organization is called "Prince Hall Shriners" ("PHA") in part to distinguish them from "mainstream" Shriners who are predominately White.

Prince Hall (1735 – 1807) was an African American noted as a tireless abolitionist, for his leadership in the free black community in Boston, and as the founder of Prince Hall Masonry (in 1775). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Hall)

The Prince Hall Shriners were founded in 1893.

PHA Shriners are referred to as "Nobles". Their leader is called a "potentate" and their meeting place is referred to as a temple. The city where the temple is located is called an "oasis" and the state where it is located is called a "desert"; for instance -from example #6 given below - "Kuwat Temple #7 Oasis of Grambling Desert of Louisiana".

"The Camel Walk" has been at least informally adopted as a signature group march of the Prince Hall Shriners. That fraternal organization's adoption of the "Camel Walk" for their processionals is likely because the camel is connected with the Shriners' (both "mainstream and PHA). As part of their Middle Eastern theme, the members of the Prince Hall Shriners are called "Nobles" & they are known for wearing tasseled fezzes. The Prince Hall Shriners' chapters are called "temples" & the terms "oasis" is used for the city and "desert" is used for the state that a specific temple (for instance, Arabia Temple #12, Black Stone Disciples, Oasis of Portsmouth Desert Of Virginia.)

The Prince Hall Shriners’ performance of the Camel Walk dance is called "riding". A version of the 1983 song "White Horse" by Jim Stahl and John Guldberg of the Danish duo Laid Back appears to be the (at least unofficial) anthem of the Prince Hall Shriners' riding. I believe that "White Horse" is used as the go-to record for the PHA Shriners' anthem for the processional strutting/dancing performance that they call "riding" because of the word "ride" in that song's lyrics and because of the song's very danceable beat and not because of the meaning of the term "white horse" (cocaine) in that record.

Click http://www.aeaonms.org/about.htm and http://www.sinai59.org/DomainHistory.htm for information about the PHA Shriners.
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwATF5dnfq4 for a sound file of the 1983 record "White Horse".

-snip-
Added September 4, 2019- To clarify, the performance dance/stroll called "riding" isn't a tradition among international Shriners (A.A.O.N.M.S, the mainstream Shriner organization whose charitable focus is Shriner hospitals*). That said, I watched at least one YouTube video which showed Black members of A.A.O.N.M.S. performed a dance that they called "riding", although a number of Prince Hall Shriners wrote that that organization 1. shouldn't do a Prince Hall Affiliated Shriner tradition and 2. did it wrong. Read some of those comments in the comment section below.

*I've read that the Prince Hall Affiliated Shriners' main charity is American Diabetes Foundation.

****
FEATURED VIDEOS
(These videos are presented in chronological order based on the date of their YouTube posting, with the oldest dated videos posted first.) Selected comments from a few of these videos' discussion threads are also included in this post.

Warning: The "Ride The White Horse" record that appears to be routinely used for the Shriners' "riding" custom contains the repeated word "b**tch". Although this blog usually doesn't feature any videos that contains profanity, I'm including these videos in the interest of documenting a few video examples the Prince Hall Shriners (PHA) tradition of "riding".

****
Example #1: Camel Walking Nobles of Kindah Temple #62



miked1906, Published on Jun 16, 2010

Camel Walking Nobles

NC AEAONMS 2010 Gala Day Charlotte NC
Kindah Temple #62

****
Example #2: Ahmed Temple #37



Princess314, Published on Oct 10, 2010

Riding Clyde...PLEASE NOTE, if you don't like it, and don't agree, then don't watch it and take your negative comments with you.
********People didn't know how to read and/or follow directions so I removed the comment section. God Bless!************

****
Example #3: Golconda Temple No. 24 Nobles camel walking into the formal dinner dance



Uploaded by bks2295 on Mar 7, 2011

****
Example #4: NOBLES

.

MrMyPushUps, Uploaded on Mar 18, 2011

ARABIA TEMPLE#12
BLACK STONE DISCIPLES
OASIS OF PORTSMOUTH DESERT OF VA
Party At The Shriners
Deep South Shriners-PHA (A.E.A.O.N.M.S)
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
1. rwshelby, 2009
"I see you Nasty Nobles........Ryde Owt Nasty Nobles"
=snip-
In African American Vernacular English, "nasty" is sometimes a highly complimentary adjective, somewhat similar to "sick", although I believe that "nasty" with regards to PHA Shriner nobles (and to members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity who are sometimes called "nasty Nupes") also retains some complimentary sexual provocative connotations.

**
2. NOBLEGREEN54, 2009
"Now That's how NOBLES ride!!!"

**
3. mike08832, 2009
"Ride it out NOBLES!!!! LMBO"

**
4. Golconda #24 Newark, NJ
Nawlinsfanforlife, 2011
"Nothing like Nobles making their presence felt!
Oro Temple #9 El Paso, Texas"

**
5. Bradley Warren-EL, 2011
"Ryde Clyde!!!! Looking good nobles!!! Who Ya Wit!!!1 MOOOOOOLLLLLLAAAAAHHHHHH Memphis, TN"
-snip-
"Ryde"= ride; PHA Shriners' riding is also referred to as "riding Clyde".

[added September 9, 2019]
My guess is that the term "riding Clyde" (to refer to the Prince Hall Masons' dance/stroll movement art known as "riding" originated as a rhyming phrase [i.e. "ride/"Clyde"]

Although it may not be related, another rhyming phrase that contains the male name "Clyde" is "More strut in your step, more glide in your stride, clyde!". That saying was popularized by the highly influential New York City radio DJ Frankie Crocker. [Crocker] "worked for WBLS-FM as program director, taking that station to the top of the ratings during the late 1970s and pioneering the radio format now known as urban contemporary. He sometimes called himself the "Chief Rocker", and he was as well known for his boastful on-air patter as for his off-air flamboyance.[3]" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Crocker

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/10/legendary-black-radio-dj-frankie.html for information about Frankie Crocker and more examples of that legendary DJ's "jive talk".

**
6. Edward Jones, 2011
"Get it Nobles. Greetings from the Dessert of Texas, Oasis of San Antonio"

**
7. Renoaldo Spells, 2012
"Wats up bro this is Wildhog #16 your line bro Take me to Mecca!!!!!!!!"

**
8. bigrider2806, 2012
"as an English Freemason with no knowledge relating to any of this i would be so grateful if someone would explain a little for me ."

**
REPLY
9. T James, 2012
"@bigrider2806 Its just some thing that Prince Hall Shriners do, like part of the culture in the group"

**
REPLY
10. FET Engineer
"bigrider2806 it's called "fun" and "fellowship"... enjoying themselves our way and there's nothing wrong with that. "
-snip-
I've read a few other comments that allude to the esoteric meaning of PHA Shriner riding beyond its entertainment and socializing purposes. To summarize one comment that I read on another YouTube discussion thread, PHA Shriners' riding symbolizes the three wise men (who were nobles) visiting and honoring the new born baby Jesus.

**
11. Klark Kent, 2013
"Gitty clyde up!"
-snip-
Gitty" is a form of the phrase "Giddy up"- a command for a horse to move forward.

**
12. Ronald Hargrove, 2015
"@SSGT Flavor Princehall is King, the noble are just riding. If it want for masonry it want be no franternities"
-snip-
I can't find the comment from SGT Flavor, but I presume from the response that that comment questioned the similarities between riding and fraternity strolling or stepping.

****
Example #5: Nobles Camel Walk



LB9139, Published on Oct 2, 2013

Kuwat Temple #7 Oasis of Grambling Desert of Louisiana

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.